U.S. patent number 3,867,726 [Application Number 05/470,723] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-25 for shoulder guard.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company. Invention is credited to Jimmy H. Cody, Bill Kelley, Laurance J. Owl.
United States Patent |
3,867,726 |
Owl , et al. |
February 25, 1975 |
SHOULDER GUARD
Abstract
A semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes. The device
includes a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections.
Each section has an arcuate shoulder portion adapted to conformably
embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to depend over
the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear portions for
depending over the shoulder blades. The rear portions have integral
lateral radial extensions for embracing the rib cage and
terminating forwardly thereof. Flexible structures on each of the
lateral extensions for detachably and adjustably joining the same
to the depending front portions. A shoulder cap is hingedly
attached to the shoulder portion of each section. Finally, flange
pocket forming structure is on the cap and the shoulder portion and
is positioned so as to form a flange pocket for the cap to seat in
when force is applied from the top or sides and restrain the cap
from pressuring the athlete's shoulder while not restricting upward
movement when force is delivered on the cap and shoulder
portion.
Inventors: |
Owl; Laurance J. (Hastings,
MN), Cody; Jimmy H. (Grand Prairie, TX), Kelley; Bill
(Arlington, TX) |
Assignee: |
Becton, Dickinson and Company
(East Rutherford, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23868767 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/470,723 |
Filed: |
May 17, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/462 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
71/12 (20130101); A63B 2071/1208 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
71/08 (20060101); A63B 71/12 (20060101); A41d
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Guest; Alfred R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and
Kurucz
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes
comprising:
a pair of opposingly formed and flexibly joined sections;
each section having an arcuate shoulder portion adapted to
conformably embrace a shoulder and having front portions adapted to
depend over the clavicular area and breast of the wearer and rear
portions for depending over the shoulder blades;
the rear portions having integral lateral radial extensions for
embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof;
flexible means on each of said lateral extensions for detachably
and adjustably joining the same to said depending front
portions;
a shoulder cap hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each
section;
means hingedly connecting each shoulder cap to the respective
shoulder portion of each section, and
means on the cap and shoulder portion positioned so as to form a
flange pocket for the edge of cap to seat in when force is applied
from the top or sides and restrain the cap from pressuring the
athlete's shoulder while not restricting upward movement.
2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for
hingedly interconnecting the shoulder portion with the cap includes
a strengthened webbing connector which is fixed in place on the
underside of the shoulder portion, extends into fixed position on
the top of the cap and then doubles back over the top of the
shoulder portion into a final fixed position on the top
thereof.
3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the webbing
connector is fixed in position with respect to the cap and shoulder
portion by means of stitching and rivets.
4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flange
pocket forming means includes a pair of strips of spaced webbing
with the strips of webbing connected between the front of the
shoulder portion and the front of the cap and between the back of
the shoulder portion and the back of the cap respectively.
5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the strips of
webbing are fixed in position by means of rivets.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Protective gear for athletes such as football players and hockey
players include protective shoulder guards. In the past, a great
variety of different configurations and designs have been employed
for ensuring protection of the athlete's shoulder and chest area.
Several of the more recent designs include those depicted in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,528,106, 3,431,560 and 2,430,502. The specific shoulder
pad designs as described in those references are great advantages
in protecting the athlete, particularly the football player from
shoulder injuries.
Naturally, further improvement is always desired from a safety
standpoint and it is extremely advantageous when the wearer is
protected in all aspects of physical contact including protection
from danger of injury from portions of the protective equipment
such as the shoulder guard parts. The above mentioned prior patents
do describe protective structure in the shoulder guards themselves
to assure that certain types of blows do not cause parts of the
protective equipment to endanger the athlete.
As stated above, further improvements and modifications in this
area are welcome in the art and would add significantly to the
safety features already present in the above discussed patents. One
area of concern is in the danger of parts of the semi-rigid plastic
portions of the protective shoulder guard being directed into
portions of the wearer's body to cause possible injury. This danger
may be noted with particular reference to the hinged
interengagement between the shoulder cap or epaulet and the
protective shoulder body portion. The cap has a rim of plastic
which could if not restrained be directed by an external force into
the football or hockey player's shoulder and deltoid area and cause
potential injury or at least substantial discomfort. Consequently,
structure on the shoulder pad which would restrain the movement of
the cap with respect to the plastic body portion so that
undesirable movement of this type cannot occur would be
advantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above thoughts in mind, it is among the primary objectives
of the present invention to provide a shoulder guard which is
designed to prevent the shoulder cap and the shoulder body portion
of the shoulder pads which are made of plasticized semi-rigid or
rigid material from coming down or resting upon the football or
hockey player's shoulder and deltoid area to cause discomfort and
possible injury. The shoulder guard protective device is designed
with the shoulder portion and the cap of plasticized rigid material
which are hingedly interconnected with the use of a strengthened
webbing connector which is sewn and riveted in place. The connector
extends from underneath the shoulder portion, ties into the cap and
doubles back over the top of the shoulder portion thereby
interconnecting the cap with the shoulder portion. The flexible
webbing material provides the appropriate motion therebetween.
Additionally, the present design contemplates the use of a flange
pocket structure to restrict the motion of the cap with respect to
the shoulder portion so that movement of the cap is restricted from
excessive engagement with the player's shoulder but movement in the
upward direction is not unduly restricted when the cap is subjected
to forces from different directions. The depicted means for the
flange pocket structure is the use of a pair of strips of
strengthened flexible webbing connecting the front and back sides
of the shoulder portion with the front and back sides of the cap
respectively. The connection is made in a fashion so as to form a
flange pocket for the cap to seat in when force is applied from the
top or sides so that the cap is not permitted to apply pressure to
the player's shoulder. On the other hand, movement is not
restricted in the upward direction when the force or blow is
delivered on the cap and shoulder portion. In this manner, the cap
is seated in a locking motion within the pocket formed by the
webbing flange. In general, the ultimate objective is to prevent
the plastic material of the shoulder pad from pressuring the player
when subjected to external force and causing discomfort or possible
injury to him.
In summary, a semi-rigid protective shield device for athletes is
provided. The device includes a pair of opposingly formed and
flexibly joined sections. Each section has an arcuate shoulder
portion adapted to conformably embrace a shoulder and having front
portions adapted to depend over the clavicular area and breast of
the wearer and rear portions for depending over the shoulder
blades. The rear portions have integral lateral radial extensions
for embracing the rib cage and terminating forwardly thereof.
Flexible means is on each of the lateral extensions for detachably
and adjustably joining the same to the depending front portions. A
shoulder cap is hingedly attached to the shoulder portion of each
section. Finally, flange pocket forming means is on the cap and
shoulder portion and is positioned so as to form a flanged pocket
for the cap to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides
and restrain the cap from pressuring the athlete's shoulder while
not restricting upward movement when force is delivered on the cap
and shoulder portion.
With the above objectives, among others, in mind, reference is had
to the attached drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the shoulder guard of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view thereof and showing the
cap in the upper position;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view thereof showing the cap
in the lower position;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof with the top flap
removed; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken through the plane of line
5-5 of FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Shoulder guard 20 provides a protective device including a left
section 21 and a right section 22 which are flexibly joined at the
back by one or more straps 23. Rivets or other well known securing
means are acceptable for attaching the straps 23 to sections 21 and
22 at appropriate points thereon. The shoulder guard 20 is secured
to the wearer by means of appropriate lacing 24 as shown in FIG.
1.
Each section 21 and 22 is substantially U-shaped in vertical
section so as to conformably embrace the shoulders of the wearer
and provide a shield for the breast, rib cage and clavicular area
in front of the wearer and for protection of the shoulder blades
and rib area in the back.
While the front depending portions 25 and 26 of the sections 21 and
22 respectively, when associated as in FIG. 1, present a marginal
contour defining a breast protector, the corresponding portions 27
and 28 in the rear have extending portions 29 and 30 respectively
which are curved radially in slightly inclined planes around the
body, embracing the rib cage on each side and under the arms,
terminating in front of the body adjacent to the marginal edges 31
and 32 of the portions 25 and 26 respectively. Straps 33 detachably
secure portions 29 and 30 to portions 25 and 26 with the assistance
of suitable fastening means. The straps 33 are connected to members
29 and 30 in any convenient manner and terminate in a buckle 34
with a variable radius slot 35 adjacent its forward end. Slot 35 is
slidably mountable on pin 36 extending from the appropriate portion
25 or 26. As shown, one portion of slot 35 is of greater radius
than the head of pin 36 and another part of slot 35 is of lesser
radius than the head of pin 36 so that the buckle 34 can be
slidably engaged and interengaged with the pin 36 for fastening and
unfastening straps 33. Naturally, other well known fastening means
can be similarly employed to removably fasten straps 33 to portions
25 and 26.
The entire assembly is preferably formed of plastic material having
suitable flexibility yet possessing sufficient rigidity to
withstand shocks or substantial force. The wrap-around feature
provided by the radial extensions 29 and 30 obviously affords
protection for the wearer's rib cage without restricting body
movements or the discomfort resulted from a sense of
confinement.
The shoulder portion 37 of each of the sections 21 and 22 is
arcuate in configuration. A shoulder cap or epaulet 38 is hingedly
attached to shoulder portion 37 by means of a strengthened webbing
connector 39 which is appropriately fastened. The lower leg 40 of
webbing connector 39 is fastened by rivets or other appropriate
means at its free end to the underside of shoulder portion 37 (not
shown). Leg 40 then extends to the upper side of cap 38 and is
doubled upon itself to form leg 41 of webbing connector 39. The
overlapping portion of legs 40 and 41 of webbing connector 39 is
riveted to the top of cap 38 by means of rivet 42. Leg 41 then
extends into engagement with the upper surface of shoulder portion
37 and is appropriately affixed in position by means of rivets 43
in any desirable predetermined pattern. Any number of rivets 42 and
rivets 43 may be employed as well as similar fastening means on the
underside of shoulder portion 33 to appropriately fasten connector
39 in position.
Leg 41 in fixed position on the upper surface of shoulder 37 is
then doubled back upon itself to form leg 44 for attachment to a
shoulder flap 46. Certain of the rivets 43 can be positioned so as
to pass through both legs 41 and 44 where they overlap to provide
proper positioning of leg 44 for engagement with flap 46. Flap 46
is connected by rivets 45 to leg 44. Connector 39 is of a flexible
material to permit hinged relative movement to a limited degree
between shoulder portion 37, cap 38 and flap 46. In contrast, flap
46 and cap or epaulet 38 are of plastic material as is shoulder
portion 37. Naturally, stitching or other appropriate conventional
expedient may be employed in place of the rivet for the
interconnection between the elements as described above.
Flap 46 extends over cap 32 and is downwardly curved over the upper
portions of the appropriate front member which is in adjacent
relationship therewith. Each end of each flap 46 is flexibly
anchored to the appropriate section 21 and 22 by straps 47 as shown
in FIG. 1.
A pair of flexible strips 48 cooperate with shoulder portion 37 and
cap 38 which are interconnected by connector 39 to form a flange
pocket for protection of the wearer. Strips 48 are of strengthened
webbing of a flexible nature and are connected to the front and
back sides of the shoulder portion 37 respectively. As shown in
FIG. 3, each strip 48 extends along the underside of shoulder
portion 37 and is riveted in position by means of rivet 49. It then
extends through slot 50 adjacent the rim of shoulder portion 37
onto the exterior edge surface of shoulder portion 37 and then
under the rim 51 of cap 38 to the underside of cap 38. Strip 48
extends along the underside of cap 39 until it is passed through a
slot 52 in cap 38 and onto the upper surface of cap 38 where it is
riveted in position by means of rivet 53. A strip 48 is fastened in
the above manner between the front of shoulder portion 37 and the
front of cap 38. A second strip is fastened between the back of
shoulder portion 37 and the back of cap 38 in somewhat parallel
fashion. Connection in this manner provides a flange pocket for cap
38 to seat in when force is applied from the top or sides and not
permitting it to come down with pressure on the wearer's shoulder.
In contrast, the pocket does not restrict movement to a degree in
the upward direction when the force or blow is delivered on the cap
or shoulder portion within the limits defined by the hinged
connection provided by connector 39. In this manner, the cap is
seated in floating position within the webbing flange defined by
the cooperating structure including strips 48.
Both the left and right sides of shoulder guard 20 are constructed
in the same manner. Once again, appropriate connecting means other
than rivets may be employed to attach strips 48 where necessary.
Additionally, although two strips 48 are shown for each
interengagement between cap and shoulder portion, any number of
such strips can be employed depending upon space limitations and
individual preferences. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, each strip 48
assists in forming a flanged pocket to restrain the rim of cap 38
from pressuring the wearer's shoulder.
Both of the sections 21 and 22 as well as the epaulets or caps 32
are padded with a suitable material such as foam rubber, covered by
a lining material. All edges of the members are provided with a
cushion binding. The sections 21 and 22, the caps 38 and the flaps
46 are suitably reinforced by embossments.
Thus, the above discussed objectives, among others, of the present
invention are effectively attained.
* * * * *